Session Information
Date: Sunday, October 21, 2018
Title: Fibromyalgia and Other Clinical Pain Syndromes Poster
Session Type: ACR Poster Session A
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose:
We have found that the Stroop word naming test is useful in evaluating fibromyalgia patients with cognitive symptoms, especially in those describing word retrieval problems. It is possible that the slower processing of information may disturb the synchrony of neural circuits and lead to some of the symptoms of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. The Mental Clutter Scale is also valuable in the assessment of cognitive problems.
Methods:
We administered the Stroop word naming test and the Mental Clutter Scale to rheumatic disease patients in a rheumatology office practice.
Results:
There were 28 patients (27 females and 1 male), in the fibromyalgia syndrome group, and 42 (28 females and 14 males), a in the non-fibromyalgia rheumatic disease patient group. The mean age of the fibromyalgia patients was 50.66 years for females and 45 years for males. The mean age of the patients with other rheumatic disease was 53.14 years for females and 48.86 years for males. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients met the 2010 ACR criteria for the diagnosis.
The mental clutter score in those with fibromyalgia was 3.8 ± 2.2 and was 2.2 ± 1.6 in patients with other rheumatic diseases, p<0.001
Conclusion:
Fibromyalgia patients have an abnormal Stroop word naming speed. The test is simple to administer. When attempting to evaluate patients with cognitive dysfunction, it can be a helpful test to screen for fibrofog. This test, in addition to the Mental Clutter Scale, can be given in the office, and can help to evaluate patients who are concerned about cognitive dysfunction.
One theory based on the abnormal Stroop test is that fibromyalgia patients appear to be “a beat behind” in their cognitive functioning. Perhaps, when they are sitting at a group meeting, they are not quite following the content because of a slowing of some neural circuits.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Katz RS, Kwan L, Anilao J, Mitchell E, Polyak JL. Using the Stroop Word Naming Test and the Mental Clutter Scale in Fibromyalgia Patients to Evaluate the Symptoms of Fibrofog. in Office Testing of Cognitive Complaints [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018; 70 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/using-the-stroop-word-naming-test-and-the-mental-clutter-scale-in-fibromyalgia-patients-to-evaluate-the-symptoms-of-fibrofog-in-office-testing-of-cognitive-complaints/. Accessed .ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/using-the-stroop-word-naming-test-and-the-mental-clutter-scale-in-fibromyalgia-patients-to-evaluate-the-symptoms-of-fibrofog-in-office-testing-of-cognitive-complaints/